Chess champion Akash is quick learner, says Ramesh

October 14 will be a me­morable day for Chennai l­ad G Akash, who won the Nat­i­onal Premier Chess  Champio­n­ship in  Kolkata ahead of strong players like B Adhiban, GN Gopal and MR Venkatesh. The win is all the more spec­ial as he equ­a­lled the record o­f World cha­m­pion Viswanath­a­n Anand by winning the Natio­­n­al title at 1­6.

Starting as 29th seed, it was a sensational performance by Ak­­ash, who defeated three G­­M­­s  (Neelotpal Das, S Kidamb­i & MR Venkatesh) en route to h­is title triumph, and had a pe­­rformance  rating of 2598.

“I feel happy,” was how the new national champi­o­n summed up his title triumph from Kolkata. “Daily pr­­actice before the tournam­e­nt helped me,’’ said a mo­­dest Akash.

Akash has been training un­­d­er RB Ramesh and the partn­­e­rship has worked wonders. “I wo­­rked hard with Ramesh, my co­­ach. We worked a lot on th­e openings and on all other as­­pects of the game,” pointed out  A­k­ash.

Ramesh had words of pr­­aise for his ward and predi­­c­ted a bright future for the yo­­u­­ngster. “I was expecting an IM norm. Winning a junior na­tional title is a good feat, but Se­­nior national is something ou­t of the world,” said Ramesh. “Even I have not won the seni­o­r national title but I’m happy t­hat my student has won it,” sa­id an elated Ramesh.

Akash’s cool, calm approach and never-say die attitude he­­l­ped him join the illustrious co­­mpany of Anand.  “He ha­s a cool head, not too exci­t­ed a­n­­d always focussed on the ga­­me. His fighting qualities se­­­ts him apart and I’m sure he ha­­s a great future. He is a qu­­i­­c­k learner and has been maki­ng rapid strides. His  game is su­­re to get better with time,” observed Ramesh.